LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is spreading rapidly despite ongoing containment measures, with confirmed infections rising to 782 and deaths climbing to 181.
According to the Congolese Ministry of Health, the outbreak continues to expand even as response teams work to identify infections, track contacts in conflict-hit communities, and prevent further transmission.
Health experts believe the actual number of infections could be significantly higher.
The outbreak was only officially confirmed on May 15, weeks after it is believed to have started, allowing the virus time to spread before containment measures were put in place.
Adding to the challenge, contact tracing efforts have weakened.
The ministry reported that only 56 percent of contacts linked to confirmed cases are currently being monitored, marking a sharp decline from the previous week and increasing the risk of undetected transmission.
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The outbreak is being driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment.
This has complicated response efforts compared to previous outbreaks caused by the Zaire strain, where vaccines and therapies were available.
While 56 patients have recovered, the virus continues to claim lives, with the current fatality rate standing at 23 percent.
Health authorities stated that more than 90 percent of all reported cases are concentrated in Ituri Province in eastern Congo.
However, infections have also been detected in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, while cases have crossed the border into neighbouring Uganda.
The spread of the virus has been made worse by ongoing insecurity in the region as nearly one million people have been displaced by conflict, forcing families to move frequently and making it difficult for health workers to trace contacts and monitor potential infections.
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Geographically, dense forests, poor road networks and remote communities that often require days of travel to reach have further challenged containment efforts.
Also, thousands of artisanal miners who regularly move between isolated mining sites have further complicated surveillance operations.
Authorities are also facing resistance in some affected areas, with anger, skepticism and mistrust among sections of the population continuing to hamper public health interventions.
Still, international attention remains focused on the outbreak.
Last month, U.S. officials announced plans to establish a quarantine facility at Kenya’s Laikipia Air Base for Americans exposed to Ebola abroad.
With infections continuing to rise and contact tracing becoming increasingly difficult, health officials face mounting pressure to prevent the outbreak from spreading further within the region.
Ultimately, the coming weeks are expected to be critical in determining whether containment efforts can regain control of the rapidly expanding health emergency.
